Steny Hoyer: W.H. aide ‘irresponsible’ on Iran

Democrat House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer criticized a White House official for saying lawmakers who are still pursuing Iran sanctions are pushing for war.

“There have been some that have suggested in the White House that those folks were more interested in war than they were in the resolution by peaceful means. I think that is absolutely untrue, [an] irresponsible assertion, and ought to be clarified and retracted by those who have made it within the administration,” Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters Tuesday morning. “Nobody believes, as far as I know, that going to war with Iran is anything but a dangerous objective that none of us would seek.”

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Hoyer’s criticism came in response to a statement to multiple news organizations last week by Bernadette Meehan, National Security Council spokeswoman, saying: “If certain members of Congress want the United States to take military action, they should be upfront with the American public and say so. Otherwise, it’s not clear why any member of Congress would support a bill that possibly closes the door on diplomacy and makes it more likely that the United States will have to choose between military options or allowing Iran’s nuclear program to proceed.”

The statement was in reference to a bill being crafted by Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Hoyer said the House has already passed a bill increasing Iran sanctions and that House members should now wait for the Senate to act. He said he understands concerns from the White House that legislative action could interfere with the negotiation process and that he is waiting to see how the deal that would have Iran open up its nuclear power program to inspectors is implemented at the end of the month.

“I’m sensitive to the administration’s concern,” Hoyer said. “I think this deal that has been reached is a positive step.”

“Let me say on the Senate’s behalf, as you know there is a provision in the bill that nothing would happen pending the conclusion and final agreement and that if, in fact, the objectives that I’ve just articulated have been achieved, further sanctions would not be imposed,” Hoyer said. “Nobody in the Senate, as far as I know, is talking about adding immediately additional sanctions.”

He added, “What I have said, what the president of the United States has said repeatedly, is that all options are on the table because the objective that we seek, the prevention of a nuclear-armed Iran, is deemed to be, and I agree, by the administration and by the Congress as [an] unacceptable alternative, a dangerous alternative, a destabilizing alternative and an alternative which poses an immediate threat to the security interests of the United States of America as well as our close allies, including Israel.”